The blog of the radio announcer for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Postgame Post (May 20, 2011)

That was a much needed home run by TJ Mittelstaedt. Both for himself and for the Rattlers. For the team because it gave them the lead against the team with the best record in the Midwest League. For the dirtbag because he had been 3-for-16 in his last six games without an RBI.

This needs to be said about TJ Mittelstaedt home runs, when he hits them, they travel. That home run he hit in Quad Cities back on May 3 wound up on the top of one of the Tiki huts in right field. The one tonight went deep onto the Miller High Life Home Run Porch, well beyond the 360′ sign.

Yes, My voice cracked. Twice. I really hate this freaking cold!

One other note on Mittelstaedt. That RBI single in the second impressed me more than the home run. He got a 2-2 change-up, stayed with it, and lined a single to center. That is one of the textbook definitions of how to hit that pitch.

I talked with Matt Erickson before the game and he said that they needed Charly Bashara go deep into the game…no matter what. That no matter what meant that if the game went south, the lefty out of Northeastern would have to “wear it” in baseball parlance. Thankfully that didn’t happen and Bashara recorded a quality start. With all of the turmoil in the OMYGOD DID YOU, PRINCE!!!!!??!?! DID YOU!!!??? YOU DID!!!!

Sorry, where was I?

Oh, right….With all of the turmoil in the Timber Rattlers rotation right now, expect Bashara to make at least one more start…Maybe next Wednesday in the doubleheader at Peoria.

Doubleheader. There’s another word I don’t want to hear again.

Tyler Cravy found another gear after giving up those two hits to start the seventh inning. Five K’s in two innings Three looking. You can see why he struck out so many at Napa Valley College and why the Brewers drafted him.

You know who – besides me – was happiest about the 1-2-3 9th inning for the save by Greg Holle? Greg Holle. Look at the emotion after the strikeout to end the game.

Those are not old highlights. Yadiel Rivera and Nick Shaw continue to make web gems (please do sue me, espn) on a nightly basis.

Reggie Keen picked up his eighth outfield assist. This one may have been more due to luck that a great arm. Runners at first and second, Yordy Cabrera doubles to left-center. Keen misses both cutoff men, the ball bounces to Hopkins in short left. Hopkins throws a strike to the plate to get the runner trying to score from first. Luck is where preparation meets skill or something like that.

Reggie really didn’t do anything easy tonight. As you see in the highlights, he stole third, but took off early and if the pitcher makes a good throw Keen is out. But, the throw was rushed and Keen scores.

Reggie also with 17 stolen bases on the season.

I’d like to be able to tell you who will be starting for the Rattlers over the next few days. I THINK that Brooks Hall is supposed to start tomorrow and I THINK it is supposed to be game one. But, game two? I don’t know. Sunday? I don’t know. Monday? That would be Happy Austin Ross Day!

Just pointing this out. The Timber Rattlers are 22-18 after 40 games. They are four games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2005 season.

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